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The first “horned saddles” or “buttera saddles” date back to the second half of the 16th century, during the period of Spanish influence, with the establishment of the State of the Garrisons in Tuscany, in 1557, at the behest of Federico II, King of Spain. The saddle had a very robust structure. It was constructed around a wooden frame made from fi...

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Tenuta Sassoregale, founded in 2002, is located in Civitella Paganico of the Grosseto province in the northern part of the Maremma known as the Alta Maremma.  There are 2 other parts including the southern Maremma, known as Maremma Grossetana, and the Maremma Laziale.  It’s located on the southwestern part of Tuscany close to the Tyrrhenian Sea.  T...

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There’s something about the idea of moving to Italy that inspires wanderlust—especially when that dream life comes with (yes!) free money. Italy is again trying to inspire the next generation to move there. We’ve all heard about the 1 euro houses that are being sold to foreigners, but they take a lot of time and money to renovate. This time around,...

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The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is turning some of its most prized artworks into NFTs and selling them to raise funds after a cash-strapped year. And it’s starting off with a bang: an encrypted Michelangelo painting of the holy family, Doni Tondo (1505–06), just sold for €140,000 ($170,000). The museum will split the proceeds with Cinello, an Italia...

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The first time I met Veronica Grechi, I almost made her cry. Not because of anything I said or did — not intentionally, anyway. But back in February, when I arrived, I was her first guest in four months. And as the owner of a B&B with just four rooms (Velona's Jungle in Florence), the glimmer of hope that I offered — even on a quick work trip — was...

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The famous Boboli Gardens in Florence house a masterpiece of Mannerist architecture and culture that is sure to leave an impression on the visitor who sees it: the so-called Buontalenti Grotto, a unique blend of architecture, painting and sculpture. The grotto (also called ‘Grotta Grande’ in Italian) is located in the far north of the Boboli Garden...

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The Tarot Garden, or Giardino dei Tarocchi, is a sculpture park containing 22 monumental sculptures based on the esoteric tarot, created by the French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, at Pescia Fiorentina, in the Capalbio area of southern Tuscany. Located about 100 km north-west of Rome near the coast, the garden is sited over Etruscan ruins, its giant...

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Once upon a time, in medieval England, there was a story which told that the one who would have managed to extract the legendary Excalibur would have become king. Actually, someone tried. And we’re not talking about King Arthur, but a normal tourist who, visiting the Hermitage of Montesiepi in Tuscany, attempted the arduous feat (without success an...

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Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso renewed his attack on the media in Italy, insisting he received ‘an avalanche of support’ and blasting La Gazzetta dello Sport for using ‘insulting Italian-American stereotypes.’ His fiery press conference on Friday sparked a furious reaction from the media, as press unions released a joint statement condemning h...

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The long and exhausting restrictions due to the state of emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have only increased the desire to travel. However, as far as finally possible, it is perhaps less prudent to travel by public transport at this historic moment, whereby travelling by private vehicles is more advisable. Hence, it seems to be the right...

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